Shared Audit Archive for Engineering and Operator Event Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In process control systems, the relationships between engineering and runtime actions are not accurately tracked, making it difficult to determine how engineering data is transferred into the operator system and leading to imprecise detection of inconsistent loading, which can result in errors or suboptimal operating sequences.
Innovation Solution
A process control system that synchronizes the runtime components of the engineering and operator systems, allowing for the storage and correlation of messages in a shared archive, enabling precise tracking of both engineering and runtime events and providing a comprehensive audit trail that considers the status of the operator system during data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate logging mechanisms are used in engineering system and operator system, then each system can independently track its own actions, but the relationships between engineering actions and runtime actions cannot be accurately determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate logging mechanisms of the engineering system and operator system into a unified logging architecture. Both systems write their audit trail entries to a shared database, enabling accurate correlation of engineering actions with runtime actions through common timestamps and event sequencing, while avoiding the need for separate independent logging infrastructures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a shared database as an intermediary component that receives and stores audit trail entries from both the engineering system and operator system. This mediator enables standardized data exchange and correlation between the two systems, allowing accurate tracking of action relationships without requiring direct complex interconnections between the engineering and operator systems.
2Productivity
If engineering data is loaded into operator system without synchronized logging, then data transfer speed is improved, but detection of inconsistent loading becomes imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the shared database continuously receives audit trail entries from both systems and enables real-time or near-real-time correlation of loading actions. The system can detect inconsistencies by comparing engineering actions (data export, loading initiation) with corresponding runtime actions (data reception, loading completion) through synchronized timestamps and event matching, providing precise detection without slowing down the data transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes preliminary logging of engineering actions in the shared database before the actual data loading occurs in the operator system. This preliminary recording of engineering events with timestamps allows the system to prepare for and accurately detect subsequent runtime actions, enabling precise inconsistency detection while maintaining efficient data transfer speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
A process control system includes an engineering system for a project configuration of hardware and software components of a process control system, an operator system having a runtime component for operator control and monitoring of a technical process, and an archive system for archiving project configuration inputs of the engineering system and for archiving operator inputs in the operator system, via which a project engineer and/or an operator may be provided with the relationships between engineering-relevant actions or events and runtime-relevant actions or events.